Demurrage chart system



J. H. ROSS.

DEMURRAGE CHART SYSTEM. APPLICATION HLE'D nac. 31. |921.

l 431,543 l Patented Got. l0, 1922.

JH. ROSS.

DEIVIUHRAGE CHART SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED DEc.sI. I92I.

Patente Oct. W, 1922.

IABILMS,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I. H. ROSS.

DEII/IURHAGE CHART SYSTEM. APPLICATION IIL'ED DEc.3I. I92I.

Ifwmwg mamma out. IIII, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

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WESTERN CDMPE'ESS co. 0F Po/er WORTH, TEX/15,

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Afl/DDL: T/eAc/r 771-5 I .I I I I I I` @VESTE/2N (3o/PRESS co. 9FPwevwo/zv-H, TEXAS.

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Patented @et lill, i922.

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yaosnrn iiuivrnia ross, or WASHINGTON, nIsTnIcT or confirmera.`

l DEMURRAGE CHART SYSTEM.

application :tiled December 31, 1921. Serial No. 526,350.

To all whomt may Concern:

Be it known thatl7 JOSEPH HUNTER Ross, a citizen or the United States,residing at Washington, in the District oi' Columbia,

`have invented certain new and useful lm- I be provided withdesignations for accurately indicating thenumber, movement and status orcars in private yards oron unloading sidings. It is wellknown thatmills,` elevators, warehouses and like consignees or shippers usuallyhave a so-called yard consisting of suitable trackage especially def'-ignated to receive cars delivered or consigned thereto by the railroadfor loading `may be, and removed by the railroad. `the car is held overa certain time limit set or unloading purposes. Usually such a yardincludes an unloading track or tracks hav` ing a dehnite car capacityand frequently the number or cars delivered to the consignoe are inexcess or' the capacity oi the unloading tracks and therefore it becomesnecessary to hold over suchexeess cars until they can be loaded orunloaded., as the cage if by the carrier, a line or "lee is assessed forthe additional time that the car is held over and this ine is commonlycalled demurrage.

A`While it is quite well understood that the demurrage charges areincommensurate with the investment in the equipment, nevertheless, sucha charge constitutes the penalty for failure to expedite the promptloading or unloading of equipment after the same has been properlyplaced upon the delivery tracks. Due to numerous considerationsenteringinto the calculation of demurrage charges, such for example alsconstructive delivery, that is, when the consiignee is notified by thecarrier that they are ready to deliver the car to him regardless of his`facilities for handling the same; the unloading oi' some cars in lessthan the free time leaving a balance or tree time to be applied to thehandling of other cars; the denial of the actual receipt of a car by theconsignee or shipper; loss or checking slips and the like, "it is very`difficult under the present system to keep` accurate account of carmovements; Obviously, therefore,` in

the absence of some reliable and easily visu# alized record for checkingthe handling and movement of the cars, the amountof the demurrage chargeisopen to dispute. t

Heretofore, the carriers or railroads have maintained; loose checkingslips, such `as i switching listsor daily car track records in thelusual column or tabulated form, which, while containing a certain amountof data relating to. each car, do not in themselves serve to bring outclearly the definite move` ment of a car after it reaches its point ordestination. From lists or this type it is possible to visualize themovement of the cars in such a positive and' definite manner that anyonenot skilled in the technique of car checking can readily understand `howthe demurrage accrued and whether `or not the amount thereofis correct.Y

Accordingly, `the present invention has primarily in view a novel chartsystem which visualizes very clearly in diagrammatic form the actualdelivery and move` ment of each and every car to any given yard andunloading track. That is to slay, the invention contemplates a novelyardchart having diagrams provi-ded with designations indicating thetotal number of loaded cars availableV in the yard and the total numberof unloading positions, together with a novel measuring symbolindicating the proportional number of cars which can occupy `theunloading tracks between shifts thereby making it possible to definitelyascertain how long a car must be held before it can be manipulated intoa position to receive oidischarge its load. ln that way it is possibleto definitely ascertain the length of time which any given car is heldbefore it is moved into position on the unloading track. This yard chartcooperates with a primary record chart that receives in addition to thecar record an arbitrary index symbol for the car thereby enabling it tobe followed up throughout the series of novel track chartson which thestatus of `the car is further designated by other novel symbolsindicating that it is loaded, unloaded, held over or empty. i

'Another object of the invention, in addition to the foregoing generalobject, is to provide a checking system which provides for ,keepingtrack of the date of receipt of such car which will enable anyoneinspect ing the chartto examine it in connection with a novel embargodiagram to tell whether or not such a car was received in an embargoperiod or in a demurrage period without the necessity of consultingnumerous records.

A further object of the invention is to provide a checking system` thatmay be readily adapted to any vindustry or yard plan, and which issusceptible ot' universal application to modern railway rules, stockhandling regulations `and tariff conditions.

Vith the above and other objects in View which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment o'l` the invention is shown in theaccompanyin@ drawings in which,

, Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustratinf the yard chart.

4igure Q-is a fragmentary view of the consignees or shippers primaryrecord chart. f

yFigures 3, l and 5 are fragramentary views of portions of unloadingtrack charts, the said views illustrating` the loading, unloading, heldover or empty status of the cars at the end of three successive shifts.

Figure 6 is a detail view of a portion ot' the embargo chart.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

In its general aspect the present invention involves a series ofcorrelated charts having diagrams for conveniently receiving definitesymbols for v indicating the status of the cars in order of theirreceipt by the consignee or shipper and their manipulation upon histracks by the railroad company. These charts may be convenientlydesignated as the yard chart A., the primary record chart B for theconsignee or shipper, la series of track charts C, C, C2, ete.,representing the position of cars at the check up at the time of thedaily shifts, and the embargo chart D.

In connection with the yard chart A, it is proposed to use a deiinitesymbol for indicating the ratio of the capacity of the unloading trackto the capacity of the yard. This symbol is preferably in the form ot' afunnel F which is to be regarded as a measuring symbol for indicatingthe relatively constricted throat through which the cars awaitingplacement must pass vto be positioned on the unloading tracks. Or inother words, it symbolizes the entrance or exit to the unloading trackand by which its capacity is regulated.

For the purpose of readily visualizing and identifying aV car as soon asit is delivered to the consignee or shipper within the territory of hisyard, each car is given an index symbol w which may be a numeral ornumber as for example GO77 which may indicate, in the example underconsideration, the order of its receipt into the yard and its positionon the primary record chart B. This numeral constitutes an index orfollow-up identification for the particular car to which it is giventhrough thel present system and it will represent or indicate the nameof the railroad, the number ott the car ot that road and all othernecessary data .for such car, as indicated by the headings of thevarious columns on the primary record chart B.

To indicate the status of the car` that is. loaded, hold over or empty.the symbols m, y, and a are employed. The symbol :e .is preferably aheavy black line or rectangle and is intended to indicate that. a car isloaded when it is placed within the consignees or shipper-s yard and, ilfor any reason the said car is held over troni one shift to the next, itis underscored by the red line 3/ which is the hold over s vmbol. Whenthe car is unloaded its position is designated by an ellipse or hollowoval 2 which is the empty symbol and shows that the consignec orshipperisthrough with the car. Il the car is held over on the uuloading trackafter it is empty it may also be designated as a hold over by placingthe red line y beneath the ellipse l lith the foregoing symbols it willbe apparent that the ear may be readily identified at a glance on anyol' the various charts and its status, that is loaded, held over orempty, may also be quickly determined. y

Referring now to the manner in which the charts are related and utilizedone. iu connection with the other it may be observed that the yard chartA illustrates a consignees or shippers yard having an unloading trackA', capable olI accommmlating ten cars. To indicate the number ot earsthat said track may accommodate the saine is divided into spaces orstalls A2 while the lfeeder tracks A3 leading` trom the yard tracks tothe unloading track converge into the 'l'unnel F, indicating that allthe cars l'rom the. yard must pass over the feeder tracks and throughthe funnel in order to be placed on or withdrawn from the unloadingtrack A.

In the illustration shown in Figure l ot the drawings, it will beunderstood that the unloading` track A. can only araommodate ten earswhile the yard tracks A* on a given date contained thirty cars. As thereare usually only two shifts made each day by the railroad company. onein the morning and one in the evening` it would be impossible for all ofthe thirty cars to pass through the funnel F, even if the unloadingtraek `40 and occupied stall #il `on unloading `track A asdesignated bythe symbol Cc in, Figure 3.

y `cessive shifts.

" liveredby the carrier onthe yard tracks At,

vvas cleared each shift, in less than three suc- Therefore, if the caris de and a known number of cars are ahead of such acar, it can bedefinitely calculated how long it should takea given car to be placed onthe unloading siding by the: railroad company if it vvere taken `up inits i the primary record chart B. ylf *To-illustrate, suppose that car.#60 vvas proper' order. i

When a car is iplacedflthat is, delivered by the carrier to theconsignees orshippers yard, it shouldbe placed on the yard chart A andits statusi'indicated either as loaded or i empty by utilizing thesymbol a" or a, While` at the same time the data of that car should beplacedon the primary record chart B at which time the index symbol isalso assigned to that particular carl rlhis index symbol i y ispreferably a number or numeral which is `20 utilized throughout theremainder of the checking system as a substitute or symbol for all ofthe dataconcerning the car placed constructively placed by therailroad`coml pany'vvith the consignee on October 20, 1919 at 3 p: Asshown by the yard chart A in "Figure 1 and the primary record chart B.'Vf According to the symbol oar. #60 Was 3()` loaded when it Wasconstructively placed by y the carrier With the consignee on October 20,

1919, and, `ovving to the number of cars ahead lof :lttOiand the limitedlcapacity of the unloading track A, itwvas impossible for the railroad.company to actually place car :tnton the unloading track A untilOctober 27 on the 6 p. m. shift, as indicated by the track Chart O,Figure `3. i

Therefore, at 6 kp. m, on October 27, 1919, car #-60 had passed ythroughthe funnel F On the next shift on the following morning, namely?" am.,lOctober 28, 1919, car

:#:60 was held over` and still loaded, as indif y cated by the symbols@c and g/ in Figure 4l. ln thisfigure car $160 occupies stall if?`vvhere Iit remained until it was unloaded prior to the checkup andshift made atb p. m. on October 29, 1919, and illustrated in `Figure 5,1n Figure 5 it vvillbefobserved thatcar,#GOoccupied stall :#:7 onunloadi ing track A', as designated by the ellipse a,

Which indicates that thecar is empty and ready for removal from theunloading` track by the carrier. ln other Words it was re# leased onOctober 29 at 6p. m., as shown `by the track O2, and which fact isrecorded on the primary record chart B. From the data While onhisunloading track by simply applying the arbitrary car designatingsymbol opposite each space or stall on the unloading `track that the caroccupies after each shift.

detailed explanation or reference to that fact on thechart.` y

Another novel and 4distinctive feature of the invention is the provisionIof the embargo chart D, shown in Figure 6. yThis chartconsists of acalendar strip D having the` days of each month arranged linearly acrossthe sheet in such a manner that the demurrage and embargo periods may bereadily marked or distinguished. That is to say, this chartienablesanyone to tell at a glance the period when all carsare exempt fromdemurrage chargesrby marking the embargo period With a distinctive colorline D2, redfor example, While the demurrage period may be marked withcontrasting` color lines D3, bluerfor example. Y

As the primary record chart B contains the date of the constructive, asWell asthe actual, placing of the car,vvith such a date as guide themerest inspection of the ein-v i bargo chart is as followse The embargochart, as previously indicated, contains the days of the months inlinear succession and therefore readily readable at a glance inconnection with the name `of the `monthappearing above the saine.' Sincethe primary record chart B shovvn in lFigure 2 always contains. the dateof the constructive asxvvell as the actual placing of the car, With theconstructive date as a guide, for example October 10th, the embargochart may be examined andthe date` of October 10th Will show, `duc Y tothe lines `D3 that-such` date- Was in a demurrage period andthereforedemurragewvas collectable-` On the other hand if the date ofNovember 10th should be taken as thekey from the primary record chart B,immediately upon reference to the embargo chart, Which is lined toindicate `an embargo period it Will be ascertained at a glance thatdemurrage was not collectable when the car Wasplaced.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the novel` and distinctivefeatures of the present invention are the provision of a series of novelcorrelated charts and symbols fo-r designating the ratio of the capacityof the unloading facilities to the number of` cars actually orconstructively ldlc iodo

received', and also keeping accurate account or their status whilechargeable :to a consignee or shipper. V

`Without further description it is thought that the many features andadvantages ot the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in-the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form,and other minor details of the ar-A rangement may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the yspirit of the invention or scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

l. A demurrage chart system including a chart having diagrams providedwith designations indicating 'total number of loaded cars available inyard, total number of unloading positions, and symbols whichrespectively7 identify each car and its loaded or unloaded status.

2. A demurrage chart system including a chart having diagrams 4providedwith designations indicatingtotal number of loaded cars available inyard, total number of unloading` positions, and a measuring symbolvisualizing the proportional number oi cars which can occupy theunloading station between car shifts. Y

B. A demurrage chart system for rail way cars including a primary recordchart having spaces bearing designations containing full data of a givencar and an additional special index symbol for demarrage checking, and aseries of track charts having spaces `bearingdesignations and sym bolsrespectively showing the special index of a given car andits status asto being loaded, empty or held over.

4. A demurrage chart system for railway cars including a yard charthavinga diagram indicating an unloading track angl a yard connectedtherewith by feeder tracks, and a measuring symbol arranged between the4feeder tracks and the unloading track for visualizing the proportionalnumber of cars which can occupy the unloading track between shifts.

5. A demarrage chart system for checking the status of'railway oarsincluding a yard chart providedl with delineated car designationreceiving spaces, a primary record chart provided with data receivingspaces, an arbitrary index symbol adapted to be placed in one et saidspaces to identify a designated car onthe yard chart, a series of trackcharts also provided with delineated car designation receiving spaces,and a series of status indicating .symbols adapted to be applied to thespaces et' said yard and track charts to indicate whether the cars areloaded, held over or empty.

6. A demurrage chart system for checkingv the statusof `railway carsincluding a yard chart provided with delineated car designationreceiving spaces a primary record chart also provided with spaces forreceiving an arbitrary index symbol adapted to be placed in one of saidspaces to identify a designated car on the yard chart, a series of trackcharts provided with delineated car designation receiving spacescorresponding to similar spaces on the yard chart, and a series ofstatus indicating symbols adapted to be applied to the spaces oi5 saidcharts to indicate whether the cars are loaded, held ver, or empty.

7. A demurrage chart system i'or railway cars including` a series otco-related charts having diagrams oi? yard and unloading tracks providedwith delineated car designation receiving spaces, a main index symbol'lor indentitying the car on all of the charts, and a series of statusindicating symbols adapted to bc applied to the spaces` of said chartsto indicate whether the cars are loaded, held over or empty.

S. A demurrage chart system for railway oars including a series of'charts, certain of said charts having spaces bearing data designating; agiven car by symbols showing its demurrage status, and also ins cludingspaces for dates. and one of said charts being a calendar having thedates of each month arranged in .linear succession and provided withdesignations indicating periods ot embargo and demurrage.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of aWitness.

JOS. HUNTER ROSS.

Witness EMoRY L. Gnorr.

